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| Sock Monkey Greetings |
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| Sock Monkey Greetings |
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| Monkey Moments on Etsy |
| Oct 28, 2008 |
I stumbled upon a shop on Etsy a few weeks ago that I fell in love with right off. The store is called Monkey Moments and they sell these adorable greeting cards featuring my favorite monkey - the Sock Monkey!
I asked Claudia of Monkey Moments to tell me a few things about herself and her shop.
Monkey Moments came to life when I, Claudia, wanted to make a Christmas gift for my sister Carollee. What started as a picture album of the woods we frequently hiked together turned into pictures of sock monkeys playing in the woods. I secretly spent one year making sock monkeys and their clothes and then taking their picture in the woods. The first images were compiled into a calendar for Carollee and with the laughter that resulted, Monkey Moments was born.
We decided to combine whimsy and nostalgia to bring laughter to the world, one sock monkey at a time. Creating monkey images was the perfect outlet for our shared sense of humor, creativity and our desire, as they say, "to escape from real life." We had a childhood full of freedom and beach adventures (we spent all of every summer of our childhood from sunup to sundown, playing on the beaches at Bethany Beach, DL - coming inside only for the barest of necessities!)
For the past six years, Carollee and I learned about the business of greeting cards from the basement up. (Literally, we started out in my basement.) Armed with only 27 images in the beginning, we nervously bumbled our way through a sort-of-sales pitch at A Pleasant Present, a store in Squirrel Hill, PA. Michael Ferraro, the owner, said he would order some of the cards. We didn't even have a pencil or paper with us on which to write an order.
As our number of images grew and with additional stores selling our cards, we gained more confidence. We attended the National Stationary Show in New York City. We constructed our own booth, made 36 sock monkeys to use as promotional items and set off to the Big Apple.
At the National Stationary Show, we made some sales, but most importantly, we got many leads that helped us decide what direction to go in next. In fact, we acquired our first card rep through an unknown woman who stopped by our booth and told us to contact The David and Lisa Showroom in Los Angeles. David and Lisa were among the first to showcase Nick and Nora sock monkeys that are printed on all types of clothing and they picked up Monkey Moments for their showroom as a way of drawing people in. Six years later, David and Lisa are still representing Monkey Moments.
These days, sounds of uncontrollable laughter still break the silence of the otherwise calm woods where we can be found inside a quaint cottage at the end of a lane. We still spend each day the way we started out: making and dressing sock monkeys and designing the props and backgrounds for each Monkey Moments vignette.
We recently discoverd Etsy through my daughters. The website is great and has provided us another outlet in which to show our cards and gift items. I love the uniqueness of Etsy and how well thought out it is.
Our inspiration comes from the distinctly recognizable and memorable moments of life, as well as the daily humdrum that we all can identify with, but photographed through a sock monkey's perspective. We believe that Monkey Moments' appeal lies in how the sock monkeys take on a life of their own and highlight the humorous complexities in everyday situations, from mundane daily chores to the celebrations of life.Labels: etsy |
posted by Sock Monkey Greetings @ 8:42 PM  |
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| Vermont Maple Review and Giveaway |
| Oct 16, 2008 |
I shared my love of Etsy with my younger sister and she opened her own store, Vermont Maple. I asked her to introduce herself this month and to share a giveaway with my readers. She agreed.
I first need to tell you that I have been enjoying my sister's maple syrup for many years. Recently she has expanded her product line to include maple candy, maple cream and lollipops. Just this past weekend I was able to try her newest addition, Maple Peanut Butter. Yummy!!!
Her products are perfect for those hard to buy for people. Grandparents, dads, teachers and co-workers. She'll even give you a discount on shipping if you fill a large priority mail box. Just send her a message via etsy.
Do you have loved ones deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan? She will put together a special package for them. I know when my husband was deployed to Iraq and Qatar, he really enjoyed the tastes from home, including Maple Syrup.
So without further ado, let me introduce to you, my sister Amy and Vermont Maple.
Our family began making maple syrup back in 2000. My husband was bored during the long winters and wanted a "winter hobby". I think this happened in March 1999. During that time we visited many sugarhouses and HE thought, "I can do this". So we ventured out to look for maple trees to tap. So in the winter of 2000, our first year, we tapped 100 trees. After putting up and taking down sap buckets for a couple of years, we decided it would be easier if we had our own land. So we went out to find some land for sale. We were fortunate to find 11 acres just 12 miles from our house that had loads of maple trees on them! We built a camp on the land, tapped our trees and our neighbors trees and now we have an operation of over 1000 taps! We made just over 220 gallons of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup this year!
Through the years, as the kids have grown, I have become more interested in the whole process. It's alot of hard work to make the syrup! Most people have no idea how many man hours it takes to prepare the sugar orchard for the season. It's a year long process! So, since we have an abundance of syrup on hand I figured it was time to use it in some recipes. I've been to many maple seminars where they taught me how to make the lollipops and the maple peanuts. Each week it seems I find a new recipe and try it! A couple of weeks ago, I discovered maple peanut butter. It is so wonderful! It is more of a cookie dough consistentcy, not smooth like store bought, but I figure that's a trade of to having something so fresh (with no preseratives!).
I'm continually trying new recipes and am open to any suggestions. I am in the process of trying out some maple salad dressings and maple/oatmeal bars! Someone suggested maple/caramel dip and smaller lollipops that I will be working on in the next week too!
What's the Prize? A 1/2 pint of Maple Syrup and a package of my Maple Candies.
How to Enter: Visit Vermont Maple and come back here and post what your favorite item is that she sells and one suggestion on something they would like to see in her store that isn't already there.
This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 16th at 11:59pm (Eastern Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org. In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email only. If there is no email address provided, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address, If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to anyone worldwide!
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| posted by Sock Monkey Greetings @ 11:24 AM |
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| My Etsy Favorites |
| Oct 10, 2008 |
Wonder what's in my favorites? Here is my Etsy Mini on items that I have added to my favorites.
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| posted by Sock Monkey Greetings @ 8:53 AM |
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| Spotlight on one of my Favorite Etsy Sellers |
| Oct 5, 2008 |
I'm starting a new feature this week where I'll be spotlighting a new Etsy seller from time to time.
I stumbled upon this seller today and immediately fell in love with her children's clothing.
Pickles and Company
Tell us about you and your shop.
My name is Annette, and I'm the WAHM mom of two girls, ages 14 and 10. I'm very blessed that I'm able to work at home doing what I love doing. I create mostly girls clothing, but occasionally I mix in a boy's set or two. I LOVE to applique. Most of my designs will feature at least some applique, while some of my designs will be LOADED with applique.
How did you get started in your craft?
I've sewn for as long as I can remember. My mom is probably the most talented seamstress I know. My aunt ran a sewing school, so I learned a lot from her. My mom's best friend was also my home ec teacher, and hardly a day goes by that I don't use something that she taught me, whether it be something about sewing, or something about life in general. Despite all that, it actually took a while for me to become "domesticated". It wasn't until after I had my girls that sewing really became my passion.
Where do you get your design inspiration from?
I find inspiration in many things. I guess, for the most part, it would come from the playfulness and silliness of children.
Anything else you'd like to share with my readers?
I love that through doing what I LOVE, I've met so many wonderful people, some of whom will be lifelong friends.
Be sure to check out her Etsy Store , her Blog and her ebay store. |
| posted by Sock Monkey Greetings @ 10:35 PM |
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| Made in Vermont Etsy Street Team |
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I joined an Etsy Street Team last month and wanted to share with you all the great Vermont businesses that are selling on ebay. They have a blog where they spotlight etsy sellers. There you can also see a listing of all Made in Vermont Etsy Street Team members. http://vermontetsystreetteam.blogspot.com/
Here is a list also (no links though):
Members Etsy Shops
Yellowdogfarmvt
Whatchabuildin
Twisted Sister
Twin Birch Bath & Body
SylvieL
StudioFresca
Spotted Cow Soaps
Sock Monkey Greetings
Sans Souci Studios
Runner Bean
Nest Pretty Things
Moonlight Llamas in Vermont
Monkey Snuggles Diaper
Mayday Studio
Mannybeads
Longfellow Designs
Kalos
Josh Burlette
Jesse Danger
Jennifer Kahn Jewelry
Jamilary
Inspired Jewelry By Ann Burke
Fuzzy Bunny
Contented Butterfly Farm
Child's Play Crochet
Chickpea Studios
Back To Nature Goat Milk Soap
Amanda May
All About Cats
After All Designs |
| posted by Sock Monkey Greetings @ 8:07 AM |
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